Sunday, July 21 at 3 p.m.—RANDOLPH—Chandler is pleased to welcome Counterpoint’s Spring Program presenting works by Brahms, Beethoven, and Bartok which mine the rich lode of European folk songs as inspiration for lively and sophisticated music for chamber vocal ensemble and piano.
The program features three instrumentalists in addition to the vocal ensemble: Laura Markowitz (VSO, violin), John Dunlop (VSO cello) and Annemieke McLane (piano).
The program will include:
• Johannes Brahms , “Romani Songs”, op. 112b (1891) and 103 (1888)
• Fanny Mendelssohn , Lied from Piano Trio, op. 11 (1847)
• Clara Schumann, Andante from Piano Trio in G Minor, op. 17 (1846)
• Béla Bartók, “Four Slovak Folksongs”, Sz. 70, BB 78 (1916)
• Ludwig van Beethoven, Scottish Songs, compiled and adapted by Nathaniel G. Lew
About the chorus
Founded by legendary choral director and arranger Robert De Cormier, and based in Montpelier, Vermont, Counterpoint is dedicated to performing choral chamber music and engaging with student musicians in Vermont and beyond. The chorus has been praised for “clarity, skill” and “sophisticated musical expressiveness.” Counterpoint has recorded seven CDs with Albany Records and has released four further CDs independently.
Counterpoint’s repertory ranges all over the map, including folksongs from around the world, African American spirituals, sacred music of many traditions, and concert works by classical composers of the past and today. Artistic Director Nathaniel G. Lew holds degrees in music from Yale, Cambridge, and the University of California, Berkeley. He currently serves as professor of music and director of the honors program at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont.
About the musicians
Annemieke McLane
Pianist Annemieke McLane was born in the Netherlands and has performed in the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States. She holds degrees in performance and pedagogy from the Conservatory of Zwolle, where she received the Student of the Year award for “great intelligence in pedagogy and sensitivity as a performer in well-balanced programs.” She won the National Young Music Talent (Netherlands) for piano accompaniment, praised for her touch and coloring, and was finalist at the international Nadia and Lili Boulanger competition. She has been staff accompanist at the Boston Conservatory and instructor and collaborative pianist at Saint Michael’s College. She is pianist for the Handel Society of Dartmouth College and the Dartmouth Theater Department. In addition to her solo and chamber music career, she plays in a duo with her husband, accordionist Jeremiah McLane.
Laura Markowitz
Originally from Pittsburgh, violinist Laura Markowitz has lived in Vermont since the early ’90s. She is a member of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and other ensembles. After getting her bachelor’s from Indiana University, she taught at Kinhaven Music School in Weston, Vermont! Her professional career has included the Florida Orchestra, the Ohio Chamber Orchestra, and the Santiago Philharmonic (Chile).
An avid fiddler in Swedish and Celtic styles, she is a member of the band Symphony Reel, which plays for children across the state through the VSO’s Symphony Kids program.
John Dunlop
Cellist John Dunlop has been performing in the Northeast for over 20 years as principal cellist with the Vermont Symphony, Burlington Chamber Orchestra, Opera North, and other ensembles. He has performed as soloist with both the VSO and BCO, as well as many chamber music performances with notable area musicians. He studied at Oberlin Conservatory and the San Francisco Conservatory, and has played in master classes for Yo Yo Ma and others.
John Dunlop has also composed and recorded several award-winning film soundtracks for short films, including a documentary on childhood hunger in Vermont, where he called on his skills as a guitarist and bouzouki player in addition to cello. He has worked with Trey Anastasio of Phish on many of his solo albums. John teaches at Dartmouth and privately in Richmond, Vermont.
